1. Progressivism Under Taft
Chapter 9 Section 4
The Americans: Reconstruction through the 20th Century

2. Taft Becomes President
Roosevelt’s hand-picked successor
Had served as Sec. of War
Ran against William Jennings Bryan
“Vote for Taft this time, you can vote for Bryan anytime”. What is that all about????
6 foot tall and 350 pounds, making Taft our largest president.

3. Taft Stumbles Taft busted 90 trusts in 4 years quietly
Payne-Aldrich Tariff
Campaigned on lowering tariffs
Signed the Tariff Act although it didn’t really cut tariffs as was the original intent
Helped to split the Republican Party
Disputing Public Lands
Appointed Sec. of Interior Ballinger who disapproved of conservation
Ballinger opened millions of acres to private businesses to exploit resources
Gifford Pinchot openly criticized the Taft administration’s policies in Congressional hearings and was fired.

4. The Republican Party Splits
2 Wings of the Republican Party
Conservative who did not like change and had supported the Payne-Aldrich Tariff
Progressives who sought change
Control of the House Committee on Rules Dispute
Conservative dictator of the House, Joe Cannon, weakened or killed most progressive bills
Progressive Republicans and Democrats passed a bill to elect the Committee on Rules thus ending Joe Cannon’s rule
Shambles in the Republican Party cause the Democrats to gain control of the House of Reps. – 1st time in 18 years.

5. The Bull Moose Party Formed
Election of 1912
Taft runs as the incumbent (Conservative Republican)
Roosevelt challenges and the division in the Republican Party causes the formation of the Bull Moose Party (Progressive Reform)
Wilson runs as the Democratic Challenger (Progressive Reform)
Eugene V. Debs runs as the Socialist Candidate (Progressive Radical Reform)

6. Party Platforms Taft – Conservative Candidate
Roosevelt – Strong as a Bull Moose
Direct Election of Senators
Initiative, Referendum and Recall
Woman Suffrage
National Workmen’s Comp
8 hour work day
Federal child labor law
Federal trade commission to regulate business
Wilson – New Freedom
Anti-Trust Legislation
Banking Reform
Reducing Tariffs
Debs
Called for an end to Capitalism
Even distribution of Wealth

7. Election of 1912 Results Taft Roosevelt Wilson Debs
42 % of popular vote
435 Electoral Votes - Winner
Debs
900,000 popular votes (6% total)
Add Taft and Roosevelt’s votes together. Would that have been enough to defeat Wilson??
Taft and Roosevelt split the republican vote and allowed the Democrats to win the Presidency
75% of the vote went to reform candidates and showed that the American public wanted change.

8. The Americans: Reconstruction through the 20th Century
Wilson’s New Freedom
Chapter 9 Section 5
The Americans: Reconstruction through the 20th Century

9. Wilson’s Background
Son, Grandson, and Nephew of Presbyterian ministers. Religious Background
Lived in the South during Civil War and Reconstruction
“Born halfway between the Bible and the dictionary and never got away from either.”
Political Science Professor
President of Princeton University
Governor of New Jersey

10. New Freedom
Trusts
Tariffs
High Finance

11. Trusts Clayton Anti-trust Act Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Prohibits corporations from acquiring stock of another company if that creates a monopoly.
Specified that labor unions and farm organizations not only have a right to exist but also are no longer subject to antitrust laws.

12. Federal Trade Act 1914 Established the Federal Trade Commission
Watchdog agency
Given power to investigate possible violations of regulatory statues
Can require periodic reports from companies
Can put an end to unfair business practices
Can issue cease-and-desist orders to companies engaged in illegal activities.

13. Tariffs Underwood Tariff Act of 1913 Federal Income Tax
Substantially reduced tariffs for the 1st time since the Civil War
Federal Income Tax
16th Amendment

14. Banking / High Finance Federal Reserve Act Federal Reserve System
Divide nation into 12 banking districts with each having a Federal Reserve Bank.
Can anyone bank there? Who can?
Still the basis of the nation’s banking system today.